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Saturday, March 15, 2008

I have really felt like I have been on a mini vacation this past week, baking my way through The Sweet Melissa Baking Book, written by Melissa Murphy, owner and pastry chef of Sweet Melissa Bakery in New York city. When I received the book for preview I was really excited to finally make some of her creations in my own kitchen. I have been a fan of her work for a long time and promised myself I would straight to her bakery if I ever made it to New York one day. Well, it was even better this past week because I took a trip there four times in four days! I have tried to do a thorough review of the book for you guys but the best part is at the end of this post where I have the chance to give away 5 copies of this new book!

The book is a right along the line as a classic baking book filled with hundreds of recipes of every body's favorites. This is the kind of book that references all the basic and classic American standards but often with a little spin to it (like an orange flavored cream cheese frosted carrot cake). Fans of the bakery are able to make some of their bestsellers right in their house at the spur of the moment and others like me can rely on a thoroughly written book for all the things that make a bakery a success. Out of the four recipes I have tried so far, (Blueberry Muffins, Lemon bars, Lemon Blueberry Buttermilk Pie, Carrot Cake) all turned out perfect and delicious and there are plenty more I am dying to try like the cashew bar that Jennifer recently posted about.

For the sake of doing a true to the author's work review, I baked the recipes as written and everything not only turned out delicious but I never once had to scratch my head saying "not sure I would have given the instructions like that, but eh..." I liked the book on so many different levels. If you are a novice baker, this is definitely the book to get to get you started in the kitchen, if you are a seasoned baker you will certainly enjoy revisiting the classics as well as childhood favorites. Each chapter is chock full of life and love for sugar, butter and flour!

How does Sweet Potato Bread With Cinnamon Rum Glaze sound from the chapter "Dessert for breakfast"? It also has some terrific recipes for muffins, quick breads, waffles and more. "After School Snacks" has been thoroughly studied by me husband bookmarking Snickerdoodles and Chestnut Honey Madeleines among the dozens of brownies, cookies and bars. I have been studying the chapter "It's Somebody's Birthday" closely lately as we have a few family members coming up with serious celebrating time and the Fluffy Coconut Cake With Passion Fruit Filling is high on my priority list! I can't wait for B 's birthday to make the Chocolate Malted Layer Cake!If you have read this blog for a while now, you know of my produce guy Sunny who seems to download all his surplus fruits into my cart!

I found my happiness in "What Will We Do With All This Fruit" making the Lemon Blueberry Buttermilk Pie (recipe next week) and I can't wait to try her Sour Cherry Pie With Pistachio Crumble. Now the recipe that really made it for us was the Carrot Cake with Orange Cream Cheese Frosting in the chapter entitled "Sunday Supper Grand Finale". I love carrot cakes that are simple in ingredients and yet very moist. We are not big fan of pineapples in ours, and B. has an aversion for raisins so it was quite a delight to make Melissa's version that excludes both but remains delicately moist and the frosting really gave the cake another dimension. What about a Fallen Chocolate Souffle Cake or a Chocolate Bourbon Pecan Pie? I know! I can't stop!! To end things on a strong sugar high, the final chapter is devoted to "Favorite Gifts" like Butter Toffee Crunch, Earl Grey Truffles, Peanut Praline, just to name a few!

Preheat the oven to 350F and line a muffin pan with muffin liners, coat with cooking spray.In a large blow, whisk together the flour, baking powder granulated sugar and salt. Set aside.In a medium bowl, whisk together the melted butter, brown sugar, and eggs until smooth. Whisk in the heavy cream and milk until combined.Add the zest to the flour mixture and with your hands, gently rub the mixture together, releasing the oils and breaking up the bits. Add the fresh fruit and gently toss with your fingers to combine. Make a well in the center of the bowl. Pour the butter mixture into the center of the well and using a spatula, gently pull the flour mixture into the center of the well until just combined.Divide the batter among the muffin cups, filling each until 3/4s of the way up. Bake 30-35 minutes. Remove from the oven, sprinkle with sugar and let cool on a wire rack.

Preheat oven to 350F. Butter and flour two 8x2-inch round cake pans. Line each pan with an 8-inch round piece of parchment paper.In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, cinnamon, baking soda and baking powder.In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the whip attachment, beat the eggs at high speed until light and frothy, about one minute. Decrease the speed to medium and add the oil, sugar and salt and mix just until combines. Decrease the speed to low and add the flour mixture until jut combined. Using a spatula, fold in the carrots and walnuts.Divide the batter evenly between the prepared cake pans. Tap the pans one against the other to level the top and eliminate air bubbles. Bake for 45 minutes. Remove and let cool on a wire rack for 20 minutes before turning the layers out onto the rack. Cool completely before frosting.

In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, combine the cream cheese, sugar and zest. Start on low speed and then increase to medium high speed and beat until smooth. Add the butter and mix on medium speed until just fluffy and smotth, about 45 seconds. Add the vanilla and mix until just combined. Do not overbeat.

To assemble:Use the frosting as both the filling and the frosting so divide some evenly between both layer and use the remaining to cover the sides and top.I made 4 small ones (4-inch round) and use the frosting just in between the layer and also to cover them all. I split each layer in half so I had a total of four which is to me a little nicer on the eye.

Book Giveaway: I am really excited to be able to give away 5 copies of the book to you guys...Yes! Thanks to the great folks at the Penguin Group/Viking Studio, one book can be yours! All you have to do is leave a comment to this post between now and monday 3pm and I'll let the Random Number Generator pick 5 lucky recipients. I will announce the winners on Tuesday 3/18 as well as tell you about another fantastic recipe from the book.

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comments:

Hi! I don't know how I ended up being first to comment, but here I am. This book sounds fabulous! So does that carrot cake. I too am not a fan of the pineapple and raisins, so this sounds like the recipe for me! Thanks for a lovely review.

Hi :-) That Sweet Potato Bread sounds amazing! I'm all about dessert for breakfast. Thanks for the scrumptious-looking post. Can't wait for the Lemon Blueberry Pie recipe, that has to be one of my favorite combinations~

It sounds like a terrific book. But I sort of want to know... when are YOU writing a cookbook? Because given how often I've hit your blog for baking recipes (my kids love your chocolate madeleines), that would be a cookbook I would buy.

I've been looking for a good carrot cake recipe, I can't wait to try this one. By the way, I tried your mini tarts with cream cheese topping and they came out divine! One of my favorite recipes. Thank you so much for this one! I hope to get this book, as my Amazon Book list is in the 300 dollar range at this point. :)

How did the book do as far as pictures go? I MUST have fabulous pictures in my cookbooks! (anybody else?) That's one of the reasons I love your blog, fantastic pics! I wish I had the camera skills....and that cookbook. ;)

OK, once again you and I are going to be scary "together" because I had BREAKFAST here yesterday while I was in Brooklyn for a meeting in Park Slope. I snagged a pastry for the train ride back to the office and I don't mind saying the people around me were staring at my treat with envy.

I'd love to see a comparison between the SM carrot cake and the Silver Palate recipe, which is the reigning champ in my house. Come to think of it, a carrot cake bake-off sounds kind of a great...hmmm.PS Random Number Generator, I love you!

Gee pers, you really poured it on with this one. I've been looking at buttermilk pie recipes for years and wanted to do one for Alanna's pi day but ran out of time for it.Sweet Potato Bread With Cinnamon Rum Glaze - yes I'm sure I could manage that.The carrot cake - I don't like raisins or pineapple in mine!And your list just goes on and just keeps sounding better & better.

Hi- this is Melissa Murphy, the author, and I have to say, this is the nicest thing that has ever happened to me. I am over the moon happy, breathlessly so, and excited that you all have said such wonderful things. I am so proud of the fact that the recipes "tartlette" has tested came out as beautiful as they did. I tested them so many times to be sure that they would. It makes me cry when I make a new recipe and it doesn't work because of the way it's written. So so so happy. Oh, also, there are 2 recipes that would be great for St. Patty's- the Guiness Gingerbread ( very moist and spicy, delicious, and I also included my favorite recipe for Irish Soda Bread. Thank you, Thank you!

Hi,I'm a regular reader of your blog but have never commented on any of the posts. The giveaway was too good to pass up, so I'm keeping my fingers crossed that the random number generator likes me! Keep on posting yummy goodness with gorgeous pics!

What a great position to be in, get given a book, cook, eat and then make other people happy by giving them the opportunity to do the same, WOW, you have the best job in the world, that is one job I would love to have!! Thanks for the chance to win a book!! Vida x

- Random number generator usually doen't like me. I would loose even if we were only two people :) But still, your goodies look absolutely stunning. Where do you get the wrapping paper for the muffins from, helene?

I've tried "almost" every blueberry muffin recipe on the planet...and this one will be next. Hmmmm...I suppose I should start my own blog~someplace to store all my feminine wiles :)BTW ...if "Veron" wins [tx to the random number generator] ...generate their copy to moi! Merci~

oh wow, the petit carrot cake looks so cute! is the book mainly focused on typical american sweet treats? the "after school snacks" section sounds really appealing to me, even though i've never really eaten those things as afternoon snacks :P.

thanx for reviewing the book and giving away free copies to ur readers. it's really generous of u!

Oh, oh...I want one, I want one! So I made a sweet potato bread today but no cinnamon rum glaze to with it. :( I am happy to try this carrot cake. I agree on the no raisins, no pineapple camp. Other things sounds exceptionally tasty as well, I am excited to hear more soon!

Both the muffins and the cake look delicious. To me it doesn't matter if you're a novice or a seasoned baker - easy recipes make for less chaos and a more predictable final product. I love both of these.

The pile of recipes from your blog just keeps growing and growing. I thought I had found the perfect carrot cake thanks to Dorie Greenspan but I am gonna try the one you posted here, you can never have enough carrot cake recipes. Love and regards :)

That carrot cake looks SO moist. I'm tempted to make it for Easter. I like carrot cake with pineapple and raisins, but I'm not opposed to it without. I bet it was easier to slice. I think this carrot cake would please more people.

The blueberry muffins look nice, also. Maybe I could use up one of my Meyers with this recipe.

Hello. This post is likeable, and your blog is very interesting, congratulations :-). I will add in my blogroll =). If possible gives a last there on my blog, it is about the TV de LCD, I hope you enjoy. The address is http://tv-lcd.blogspot.com. A hug.

For those of you who would like to buy the book, you can go to my website, www.sweetmelissapatisserie.com, click on the book, and you have a choice of links to choose from.. Thank you again for your support- gotta go- making a LOT of irish soda bread tomorrow! p.s- I mentioned some recipes to try, and I have a hard time choosing favorites- but if you have the book, you MUST try the chocolate espresso cheesecake. It is- umm- insanely good. It's a hide in the closet and eat it all kind of delicious. The texture is unlike anything I've ever had. It really might just be my favorite thing.

whoops! I'm late for the book! I just love to eat carrot cake. I thought it was a chocolate version. I was wondering what you think of chocolate carrot cake. Lucky 5 people to get the book! Congrats to everyone who get it!